Sermon Notes

Introduction

1. We are living in some of the most dramatic times in history; Jesus referred to times like these as “birth pains” which would intensify and become more frequent His return gets closer…he said when you see the things happening, “look up because your salvation is getting close.”
2. What is God doing?
   1. He is maturing and uniting His Son’s Bride. Before Jesus returns, His Bride on the earth will reflect Him to the earth! We will be a visible expression to the world of Jesus! Many have turned away from Jesus b/c of the Church, but in the End many will turn to Jesus b/c of the Church.
   2. “John 17.21-23” – We are seeing this prayer being answered. Do not be misled by extremist who want to hijack the unifying work of HS to make the Bride of Christ of one.
   3. Eph.4.13-16 – THIS IS WHAT GOD IS DOING NOW!!!
   4. John 14.12 – For greater works there must be greater unity.
3. The maturing of the wheat and tares – Matt.13
   1. There will be great righteousness and great unrighteousness; great darkness & great light; the work of God in power and the work of satan in vengeance.
   2. The rise of both the Beautiful Bride of Christ and the Brazen Prostitute Babylon. These two ladies are emblematic of two Kingdoms, the KOG and kingdom of darkness; mature/abiding believers & sinful/rebellious unbelievers.
   3. They are maturing at the same time! They are coming into the fullness of their destiny at the same time in history.
   4. We are in a season of shaking and winnowing and most will come out of this season looking completely different. You are not returning to the same place you were in mid-March. Your heart will be more in tune/love with the Lord and others or you will be more distant/adrift from God and others.
      1. From your life will be anger or peace; criticalness or gentleness; callousness or empathy; worried or content; offended or zealous; united or divided; discouraged or joyful; strong or weak. He is doing John 15.2 – pruning and removing.
      2. My sabbatical experiences & Susan’s sabbatical experience – being away changes perspectives.
4. As believers we are greatly influenced by this Babylonian world system. Daniel lived in literal Babylon and shows us how live a supernaturally powerful life while being tempted and tried.

Daniel is a prototype of how we must live in this hour of history.

1. The Babylonian system wants to assimilate believers…for us to adopt is values, behaviors and lifestyle. It wants us to cave to the pressure of compromise concerning truth; it wants us to float in the moral current of the day and not resist.
2. Daniel shows us how to live in a hostile and oppressive environment yet maintain your identity, convictions and lifestyle in Jesus. He never bent to the culture. He was courageous, bold, consistent and always resisting Babylon’s prevailing currents.
3. Just as Daniels’s prophecies are relevant to us in this hour, so is Daniel’s lifestyle. He not only told what to expect during the ET but more importantly he showed us how to live in it.

Babylon in her maturity – Rev.17-18

Babylon in the Book of Revelation is called “the great prostitute.” (Rev.17.1) Her influence has been felt throughout the ages, but her greatest manifestation will be before the return of Christ.

The description of the Babylon in Rev.17 – 18 is a picture of what sin is like in full maturity. Look how John describes this prostitute:

• “The great prostitute sits on many waters…the waters…are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.” (17.1,15)
• “The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.” (17.4)
• “She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.” (17.4)
• “THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (17.5)
• “the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints” (17.6)
• “She has become a home for demons” (18.2)
• “The kings of the earth committed adultery with her and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” (18.3)
• “In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and I will never mourn.’” (18.7)
• 18.11-13 describes her excessive luxuries.

The same character traits that filled the original Babylon are brought to a new level in this one.

Who is this woman?

Much has been written about future Babylon. Some believe she is a world-wide religious system. Some purport the Roman Catholic Church or a variation of it is the fulfillment of these passages. Others see her as the Roman Empire during the time of the early church and others contend she will be the revived Roman Empire. More extremist believe New York City or the United States or possibly the European Union is the prostitute. Finally, there are those that believe Babylon is literal Babylon located in Iraq, which will one day be rebuilt and be the center of the anti-Christ’s activities.

We must remember that even before the fall of humanity there have been two kingdoms in conflict. They are the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. These kingdoms express their work in the world through two women who are personified in the Book of Revelation as the Bride of Christ and the Great Prostitute.

They are also referred to as cities. The Great Prostitute is Babylon (Rev.17.1, 5, 18) and the Bride of Christ is the New Jerusalem (Rev.21.2, 9-10). These women are composed of people who are under the headship of different leaders – Jesus and Satan.

The difference between the two is stark.

The Great Prostitute

• Babylon the Great
• Adulterous
• Greedy for more
• Impure: Full of every known sin
• Martyrs the saints
• Enjoyed by the nations
• Demon filled
• Destroyed by God

The Bride of Christ

• New Jerusalem
• A Virgin
• Filled with Good Works
• Pure: Clean before God
• Endures Victoriously
• Adored by Jesus
• Spirit filled
• Married to the Lamb of God